scam or not??

F

frank

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
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1,179
Location
dubuque
I just got a phone call that said my computer was sending out warnings and errors and has a trojan virus. the guy said his name was james robinson and his phone no is 315--219-9190 he had me type in www. win32.us and it took me to a site that said support. I can not find that he or the site is connected to microsoft and was wondering if anyone was getting this call? he wanted me to download a program called teamviewer QS1 when you click the word support on this site, but I got a little scary about opening a program I knew nothing about on the word of a stranger.
 
frank said:
I just got a phone call that said my computer was sending out warnings and errors and has a trojan virus. the guy said his name was james robinson and his phone no is 315--219-9190 he had me type in www. win32.us and it took me to a site that said support. I can not find that he or the site is connected to microsoft and was wondering if anyone was getting this call? he wanted me to download a program called teamviewer QS1 when you click the word support on this site, but I got a little scary about opening a program I knew nothing about on the word of a stranger.
Click to expand...

SCAM

Do not download it. It is a virus or trojan horse of some kind.
 
aim-high said:
SCAM
Click to expand...

+1000

I wouldn't open that program for all the tea in China.

My suggestion is to run your security software (such as Norton, McAfee, or whatever you have in place), and also run the free version of malwarebytes. If they come up clean then you are set.
 
Last edited:
I don't know anything about your specific case, but as a general rule I would never download software and run it on advice from an unsolicited call.

Ever.
 
RULE NUMBER 1: Unless you initiated it, make no changes to your machine.

So a call out of the blue to "fix" your machine is highly suspect.

If you are convinced the call is "real", get a company name, employee name and callback number. Then research it and see if the company's official web site has that callback number, or call the main number and ask for the employee.
 
SCAM. You might have given a stranger access to your computer. Why else would a stranger call you and tell you to support a strange website with something called team viewer on it?
 
Scam for sure! And now you badly need to remove tracking cookies that site undoubtedly loaded up on your machine.

Go to malwarebytes.org and download the free version. Update the definitions and run a full scan. Do it now....
 
Definitely a SCAM.

Also, sounds like he was abusing the use of the free TeamViewer software to gain access and remote control your computer.
 
It's a scam. Whenever I get a call like that, I just yell to the caller, "This is a SCAM"!" and hang up the phone.
 
scrabbler1 said:
It's a scam. Whenever I get a call like that, I just yell to the caller, "This is a SCAM"!" and hang up the phone.
Click to expand...

You're more polite than me. I either play dumb and string them along for 20 minutes or say a string of words that would make a sailor proud.
 
Got one of those calls a couple months ago while at home waiting for my wife to get back from shopping. Had time to kill so I played along. I became the most inept computer user ever as this poor scammer tried and tried to walk me through some Windows admin tools and event logs which would "prove" that my computer was horribly infected and ready to explode. I'd ask every time "do I left click or right click?" even if he had just told me. I'd use wrong terms to describe thing, I'd say "oops, what happened?" under my breath and say "What was that last part again?"

All that was leading up to getting me to download their "repair tool" which was certainly going to be a virus. After 20 minutes of my incompetence and bumbling we were at the point where he could direct me to the website.

I unplugged the network cable from the PC. I feigned ignorance about Internet Explorer, he told me how to start it, I read off the (actual) error about not being connected to the internet. He asked me to try my email, I said I didn't use email.

He asked how I used the internet, I said I don't know. Do I have a router? A modem? I said I don't know. I could hear it in his voice - all that time wasted on someone who COULD have been scammed, was WILLING to be scammed, but didn't have an internet connection to make it happen.

Felt kind of good, maybe I saved a couple other people from being harassed.
 
Teamviewer isn't a scam - it's a piece of software that allows a remote user to take control of your computer. I use it frequently to support my mother and MIL with their computer problems.

What is the scam is allowing someone you don't know to use the software to access your computer.
 
Walt34 said:
You're more polite than me. I either play dumb and string them along for 20 minutes or say a string of words that would make a sailor proud.
Click to expand...

I avoid doing that. They have my number, what if they start ringing me at all hours of the night? They can fake their caller ID, so blocking them isn't easy. Some bored guy in cube might think that's funny.

Just hang up, or better yet, don't answer in the first place.

I use Teamviewer for remote control of my Mom's computer (lifesaver!), and I guess they make a version that is a real fast one-click temporary install - yep, that sure could be dangerous in the hands of bad guys.

Is this a scam - OMG yes, without a doubt, and a very dangerous one. frank, be careful out there!

All together now:

1,2,3,4; 1,2,3,4

SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, .... SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, SCAM

SCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM, .... Wonderful SCAM ...



-ERD50
 
prudent_one said:
Got one of those calls a couple months ago while at home waiting for my wife to get back from shopping. Had time to kill so I played along. I became the most inept computer user ever as this poor scammer tried and tried to walk me through some Windows admin tools and event logs which would "prove" that my computer was horribly infected and ready to explode. I'd ask every time "do I left click or right click?" even if he had just told me. I'd use wrong terms to describe thing, I'd say "oops, what happened?" under my breath and say "What was that last part again?"

All that was leading up to getting me to download their "repair tool" which was certainly going to be a virus. After 20 minutes of my incompetence and bumbling we were at the point where he could direct me to the website.

I unplugged the network cable from the PC. I feigned ignorance about Internet Explorer, he told me how to start it, I read off the (actual) error about not being connected to the internet. He asked me to try my email, I said I didn't use email.

He asked how I used the internet, I said I don't know. Do I have a router? A modem? I said I don't know. I could hear it in his voice - all that time wasted on someone who COULD have been scammed, was WILLING to be scammed, but didn't have an internet connection to make it happen.

Felt kind of good, maybe I saved a couple other people from being harassed.
Click to expand...

Though I wouldn't go to such lengths as you did, I do admire your style :LOL:
 
ERD50 said:
or better yet, don't answer in the first place.
Click to expand...

+1

I never answer a call if I don't know the number (basically, if it's not in my contacts). They can leave a message and I can call them back if it's worth it.

The only time I pick up an unknown number is when I'm expecting something like a repair person visit shortly.

It took me a few years to learn this behavior - I was programmed to answer a ringing phone from childhood - but it now serves me well.
 
I received one of those phone calls about a month ago. Having been in the computer industry (software engineer) for 40 years it struck me as so strange that I started laughing. The guy that called got extremely angry and started cursing at me and then hung up.
 
scrabbler1 said:
It's a scam. Whenever I get a call like that, I just yell to the caller, "This is a SCAM"!" and hang up the phone.
Click to expand...

Walt34 said:
You're more polite than me. I either play dumb and string them along for 20 minutes or say a string of words that would make a sailor proud.
Click to expand...

That works but so does interrupting and saying "OK, I can help you with this but first... can you tell me what you're wearing?

If they actually respond, then ask for some detail. Usually however they simply hang up.

It can be fun... ;)
 
Janet H said:
That works but so does interrupting and saying "OK, I can help you with this but first... can you tell me what you're wearing?

If they actually respond, then ask for some detail. Usually however they simply hang up.

It can be fun... ;)
Click to expand...

I'll try that next time.:LOL:
 
TeamViewer is a legitimate software tool used by many companies to control the computers of their clients. Unfortunately, it has also become a tool of scammers such as the one discussed in this thread. It is possible that the scammer is using the name of Teamviewer in a nefarious way.

I have Teamviewer installed on my computer and I use it to fix things on computers around the world. The client has to specifically allow me access for each session on their computer.
 
Janet H said:
That works but so does interrupting and saying "OK, I can help you with this but first... can you tell me what you're wearing?

If they actually respond, then ask for some detail. Usually however they simply hang up.

It can be fun... ;)
Click to expand...

I have heard of that approach before. :LOL:

I just don't answer, but if I did, my method would be to politely say "sure, can you hang on a moment, I'll be right back" then set the receiver down and don't come back. Or better yet, after a short moment, say "I'll be right back..a few times" :D then walk away.
 
If you are lucky they will only take a few hundred of your dollars. If you are unlucky your computer will become their unwilling slave, dishing out loads of toxic junk to your friends and even strangers. Have nothing to to with these people.
 
SCAM. Got a similar call this morning, but my guy was so bad at it he couldn't stay on script and repeated the "Hello my name is, and I'm from Computer Maintenance Department" a couple times, mumbled something about virus and sending bad, and then started again from the top. When I asked him, "Are you saying my computer has a problem?" He hung up. This must be a real bottom of the barrel operation.
 
Janet H said:
That works but so does interrupting and saying "OK, I can help you with this but first... can you tell me what you're wearing?

If they actually respond, then ask for some detail. Usually however they simply hang up.

It can be fun... ;)
Click to expand...

Had a guy call to sell replacement windows. I wasn't happy since we're on the do-not-call list, and he was a fast-talking pushy type which irritates me even more. You know, the ones who launch into "so, would Tuesday at 8 or Wednesday at 7 be better for you?"

For whatever reason, I decided to ask for turnips.

"Well, I don't know... can you bring turnips?"
I'm sorry, what?
"Turnips. Can you bring some turnips?"
Did you say turnips?
"Yes."
Turnips.
"Yes, if you could bring some turnips that would be great."
I don't think, uh, no.
"Just like everyone else! Can't even bring turnips! Goodbye then!"

He probably got a lot of mileage out of that story in the boiler room.

Might sound weird, but try asking for turnips. They will never call back.
 
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